18 replies to this topic

[pinball buzz]

Hi All,
Here is my current spec for my Cab running FP at the moment.

Pc Spec updated 2009

PC Spec for cab
AMD Phenom 9950 Black Edition swopped for Intel Quad core Q6700
ASUS M2N68-CM Motherboard - replaced for Asrock N7AD-SLI
OCZ 4GB DDR2 ram - NOW 8gb
XFX (nVIDIA) ge force 8800GT Alpha Dog 512mb version graphics card - replaced with Geforce GTX260
Windows XP Pro sp2 - changed to Damn Tiny Vista 64 bit version

Monitors
Backglass – 26”Acoustic Solutions LCD HD TV
Playfield – 37” Technika LCD HD TV

Interfaces
Glider mouse (mounted on lockdown bar)
usb keyboard (fitted to pull out undercabinet shelf)
Mini pac IPAC controller for arcade buttons

Front end - Maximus Arcade - replaced now with Hyperpin

Current settings for display are
Backglass – 1280 x 720
Playfield 1920 x 1080
Using arcade render mode

I started building the cab in May 2008 - with a completed, but not totally finished cab by sometime in June.
 cab_latest_with_speakers_fitted.jpg   158.53KB   833 downloads

Here was the first construction shot
 cab_1st_construction.jpg   176.24KB   605 downloads

The dimension of the cab was based as near as possible to an actual pinball cab, the width and length dictated by the playfield monitor.
The cabinet was made out of 3/4 inch construction plywood, with the head made of mdf

As I find time I will contiue to add to this post, showing how I got from start to finish.
Hope this is of help to budding builders out there.

Cheers Pinball Buzz

[ynneBBenny]

Hey Buzz, Thats a very neat build indeed.
Thanks for taking the time to post pictures etc.
I can assure you that the lack of responces to your thread, does not reflect lack of interest.
I think the link that takes people away, causes them to forget to come back and comment.
Keep you the good work as I'm sure heaps are interested in your progress.

Regards Benny

[pinball buzz]

Thanks for the encouragement Benny, and thanks for posting about the accelerometer from Ultimarc, I am looking into adding to my cab. Been really busy with the new frontend coming soon, plus loaded VP onto the cab - so now its a true Multipin !!
The link to my cab is there as a sort of picture guide, but I promise to post some more details soon.
Cheers Pinball Buzz

[ynneBBenny]

Hey Buzz, When you do start posting details, can you post the cutting dimentions for all the individual parts. It will save many of us the hassle of working them out for ourselves.

Regards Benny

[Cameron]

Looks awesome!

[JaceMan]

I've seen your work in the other hobby forums as well Buzz. You da man!

Of course even those who are not "da man" are still da man compared to me. I'll never be able to do this!

[JudgeX]

Dude, I would love to build something like this... maybe in a few years if the price of those LCDs go down...

Playing pinball on an upright arcade cabinet is fun (I added flipper switches on the side), but, man, this just blows that away... I now officially *need* both...

Looks like you did this for significantly under the cost of an ultrapin setup, and, since it's more configurable, this is probably the way I'd go.

Excellent job on this.

[Flying Dutchman]

Looking fantastic pinball buzz!!

Thanks for sharing!

Could you show us more pics pls.?

Cheers,
FD.

[pinball buzz]

Hi Guys,
Yes considerably less than an ultra pin, and yes FD more pics to come.
Thanks for the kind words - hope I can spur you on to make your cabs.
Not been around here for a while - 2 weeks vacation, so just doing some catching up.

Cheers Pinball Buzz

[th' Cap'n]

I don't see dates on these posts, so this may be a year old for all I know. Nonetheless, I like your homespun cab, Buzz. I am considering building something similar and am VERY interested in your experience with the IPAC controller. I can't choke down the price for a Nanotech Pinball Wizard at this time and the IPAC looks like a great, lower cost alternative.

Can you tell me how it installed and programmed? Thanks in advance!

--
th' Cap'n

[bolt]

Looking very good pinball buzz.

[kurt]

looks sweet mate well done, i love your coin door.

I'm with the rest of the guys more pictures please

Ive never used Maximus Arcade so i have no idea how good it is but if you should get a chance take a look at hyperpin @ www.Hyperspin-fe.com awesome FE that really suits virtual cabs.

Edited by kurt, 19 March 2010 - 10:42 PM.

[pinball buzz]

Sorry guys its been a while since I updated this thread - cab building takes up a fair bit of time
Will try to bring this further along for you all - thanks for all the nice comments and hopefully I have inspired some of you to get into the workshop

Buzz

I don't see dates on these posts, so this may be a year old for all I know. Nonetheless, I like your homespun cab, Buzz. I am considering building something similar and am VERY interested in your experience with the IPAC controller. I can't choke down the price for a Nanotech Pinball Wizard at this time and the IPAC looks like a great, lower cost alternative.

Can you tell me how it installed and programmed? Thanks in advance!

--
th' Cap'n

Hi Cap`n,
Yes the ipac is the way to go for the interface - mine has been running fine for nearly 2 years - not even had to unplug and restart anytime.
Sorry I have been so slow with answering your question.
I wouldn`t spend the money on a pinball wizard - what you save can go towards the backglass monitor !!
Cheers Buzz

[pinball buzz]

To keep down costs, I had to find a way to attach the backglass monitor firmly into the head cabinet.
I had looked at using vesa fixing brackets, but the mounts were more expensive than I realised.
Instead I came up with the idea of using battens fixed to the back of the cabinet, which I lined up with the vesa mount holes.
These were drilled through, and using threaded rod, nuts and washers I could then slide the monitor in place, finally tightening up the rods.

The head itself is supported by 2 vertical lengths of box section steel bar, plus bolts fixing into the main body.
 P1100129.JPG   2.08MB   105 downloads

This shows the rear view with the support bars in place for the cabinet head, plus the 1st exhaust fan.
 P1100132.JPG   1.8MB   42 downloads

Buzz

[pinball buzz]

USB Mini IPAC was installed as interface between cab buttons and pc.
Easy to wire, programme, and reliable.

http://www.ultimarc.com/minipac.html

Here`s mine fitted
 P1100131.JPG   674.76KB   68 downloads

A second fan (Zalman) was fitted to the base of the cab as an intake fan.
The support timbers for the playfield can also be seen.

 P1100130.JPG   2.2MB   56 downloads

[pinball buzz]

looks sweet mate well done, i love your coin door.

I'm with the rest of the guys more pictures please

Ive never used Maximus Arcade so i have no idea how good it is but if you should get a chance take a look at hyperpin @ www.Hyperspin-fe.com awesome FE that really suits virtual cabs.

Thanks Kurt,
The coin door was from ebay - 1970s Stern door £13.99 bargain.
Used a metal holesaw to cut holes for admin buttons.
 P1000867.JPG   3.83MB   57 downloads

At the time (2008) Hyperpin front end hadn`t been released, so I went for Maximus - not bad but Hyperpin rules !!

[pinball buzz]

Finally getting round to updating this thread - my apologies for not doing this sooner.

Decided to lose the pinball launch ball button, and install a plunger.
Used a Stern standard plunger and housing, with a roller micro switch, wired to the mini ipac

http://www.flickr.co...157605101163175

Couple of shots from the inside view, showing how to place the switch - (this is wired opposite to a normal button switch - so that open position is now closed)

Close up
http://www.flickr.co...157605101163175
Works pretty good - short pull back equals short plunger draw shot.

Here`s the plunger drawn back
http://www.flickr.co...157605101163175

Recently fitted a mercury tilt switch for centre down nudging - if you look close you can see the mercury inside the glass bulb
http://www.flickr.co...157605101163175
http://www.flickr.co...157605101163175

The switch was fitted to the inside of the coin door, when the door is shut the angle is just right for a gentle nudge to activate

More to follow - if you want larger images just use my flickr link in my signature

Cheers Buzz

[Sabbat]

nice pics buzz

[pinball buzz]

Thanks Freddie,
Thought I had better post the updated spec, as its been quite a while.

Intel Quad core CPU Q6700 @2.66Ghz
Mainboard - ASRock N7AD-SLI
Ram - 8GB - 4 X 2GB ddr modules
Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 running playfield at 1920 x 1080
Nvidia GeForce 8500GT running backglass at 1280 x 1024

Samsung 1TB Sata 7200RPM Hard Drive
Generic DVD Drive

Sound Card - SB Audigy SE

Power Supplies - Corsair 950 Watt TX for base unit
Cab fitted with hacked Generic 400 Watt PSU for Button Lights and Cab Fans

Intellipanel Power Strip (Smart Strip)

Operating System - Damn Tiny Vista 64 bit edition

Cheers Buzz